The Great Isaiah Scroll, the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at Qumran from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter.
The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex.[3] Isaiah 8 is a part of the Prophecies about Judah and Israel (Isaiah 1-12). {P}: open parashah; {S}: closed parashah.
{P} 8:1-3a {S} 8:3b-4 ויאמר ה' אלי {S} 8:5-8 {S} 8:9-10 {S} 8:11-15 {P} 8:16-18 {S} 8:19-23 [9:1-6 {P}]
Since the sign of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14-17) gives an undisclosed time in the future, another sign is given to deal with the contemporary scene, in the form of a child with an ordinary birth and a name which would be a standing witness (cf. Isaiah 8:18) to the prophecy both about 'the enemy at the gate' (verse 4; cf. Isaiah 7:16) and about the next victim of the Assyrians, which is Judah itself (Isaiah 7:17).[4]
Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz";[7]
The striking similarity with Isaiah 7:14-15 raises an argument that this is a variant version of the same story, but 'the heavily symbolic name given to the unsuspecting child has markedly different overtone'.[8]
God's gentle flow and Assyria's torrent (8:5–8)[edit]
Using evil to fight evil would bring Judah to the path of the torrent/flood which would jeopardize herself as the land of Immanuel, but for Immanuel's sake, there is a limit set (verse 8: up to the neck; cf. Isaiah 10:24–27).[4]
This part contains Isaiah's defiant response to the meaning of "Immanuel" (verse 10c: God with us) and to God's insistence (verse 11: his strong hand upon me) that people should reshape their thinking and emotional attitudes (verse 12) round God himself (cf. call to a transformed outlook in Romans 12:2).[9]
As the oracle of judgement in this part gives clear warning to all conspiring against the community that the presence of Immanuel ('God is with us') will overthrow their plans: There is no political solutions to the community's problems, but the people are to trust in YHWH (Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread).[8]
This part indicates that Israel is losing God's teaching and blessing (verses 16–17), because Israel is refusing the light (verses 19–22), so is only left with signs (verse 18) and can only expect darkness (verse 22).[12]
This verse relates to the completion of the scroll initiated in verse 1. The expression my disciples is God's new definition for his people in their relation to him.[12]
